Container for producing cold foods and beverages

Abstract

A drinking mug or tumbler-like device self equipped to rapidly transform its contents into a congealed, or very low temperature liquid condition comprising an inner container enclosed within a larger outer container that is filled with a water based refrigerant in the space therebetween, and hermetically sealed with a special seal gasket arrangement. In preparation for use, the device in placed in a refrigerator freezer until the refrigerant is solidified. The contents are then poured into the container and cooled as heat is absorbed by the refrigerant through the walls of the inner container. The specially proportioned inner container aids transfer of heat energy to speed cooling of the contents, along with a fabric which aids in the distribution of thermal energy throughout the refrigerant, and also controls the degree of congealment within the beverage, and refrigerant. The refrigerant compartment is specially designed to assist directing of the expansion volume of the frozen refrigerant away from the walls and into an expansion absorber fitted at the bottom of the compartment. The exterior of the device is easily detachable from the remainder of the unit to reduce preparation time in the freezer, and to allow retrofit for altered cooling performance, decorative appeal, and adaptation for outdoor use. The concepts identified above are also applicable in the design of hot cup devices.

I claim:  
     
       1. A container for thermal treatment of contents placed therein comprised of: 
       (a) an inner container open on one end and closed on the other equipped with a flange on said open end, for holding the contents,  
       (b) an outer container equipped with a flanged open end, enclosing said inner container,  
       (c) a thermally treated material which undergoes a substantial change of volume during the usual operation of the container contained within a compartment between the outside of said inner container, and the inside of said outer container,  
       (d) a seal gasket constructed of a compressible material attached between said inner container flange, and said outer container flange,  
       (d) means for attaching said inner container to said outer container for compression of said seal gasket, whereby said inner container, and said outer container may be joined together with a connection that is flexible, of high structural integrity, and that insures the said compartment is leak proof regardless of changes of pressure, or volume that may result from temperature variations of said thermally treated material, said inner container, or said outer container or, misalignment of said inner container, and said outer container.  
     
     
       2. A container for rapid thermal treatment, and holding of contents placed therein that the contents may be maintained in a desired temperature during their consumption comprised of: 
       (a) a generally cylindrical shaped, closed end inner container constructed of a material having good thermal conductivity, open on one end and closed on the other  for holding the contents,  
       (b) an outer container, enclosing said inner container,  
       (c) a heat absorbing material which undergoes a change of material phase during operation of the container contained within a compartment between the outside of  said inner container, and the inside of  said outer container,  
       (d) means for attaching said inner container to said outer containerwherein ,  
       (e) means to prevent leakage of said heat absorbing material out of said compartment is prevented  the container,  
       (f.) said inner container having an elongated interior equal in measurement to at least two of its  cylindrical wall diametersmeasured at the widest point horizontally adjacent to ,  
       (g.) said heat absorbing material when the container is in the normal upright  position, and having substantial physical  thermal contact with said heat absorbing material at all times during the usual operation of the container  along its  the elongated exterior sides of said inner container with a level equal in measurement to a minimum of said two wall diameters, whereby the contents may be thermally treated more thoroughly, and in less time.  
     
     
       3. A container for rapid thermal treatment, and holding of contents placed therein that the contents may be maintained at a desired temperature during their consumption comprised of: 
       (a) a closed end inner container constructed of a material having good thermal conductivity, open on one end and closed on the opposite end  for holding the contents,  
       (b) an outer container, enclosing said inner container,  
       (c) a heat absorbing material which undergoes a change of material phase during operation of the container contained within a compartment between the outside of  said inner container, and the inside of  said outer container,  
       (d) means for attaching said inner container to said outer container wherein ,  
       (e) means to prevent said leakage of said heat absorbing material out of said compartment is prevented  the container,  
       (f) said inner container having an interior with a generally rectangular shaped cross section equal in length to at least two times its width, and having substantial physical contact with  
       (g.) said heat absorbing material at all times during the usual operation of the container  having substantial thermal contact along its  the larger elongated exterior sides of said inner container to a level equal in measurement to a minimum of said two cross sections widths, whereby the contents may be thermally treated more thoroughly, and in less time.  
     
     
       4. A container for rapid cooling of contents placed therein that the contents may be placed below, at, or very near their freezing temperature in a liquid, congealed, or semicongealed condition comprised of: 
       (a) an inner container constructed of a material having good thermal conductivity for holding the contents,  
       (b) an outer container enclosing said inner container,  
       (c) a water based refrigerant material that may be frozen into a solid within the range of conventional household refrigerator freezers,  
       (d) a fabric constructed of a polymeric material permeated in said refrigerant for altering the rate at which thermal energy flows into, and out of said refrigerant, whereby the degree of congealment of the contents, or said refrigerant may be altered.  
     
     
       5. The container of claim  4  wherein said polymeric fabric is made of plastic. 
     
     
       6. The container of claim  4 , wherein said polymeric fabric is made of an elastomer. 
     
     
       7. The container of claim  4 , wherein said polymeric fabric is made of glass. 
     
     
       8. A container for rapid cooling of contents placed therein that the contents may be placed below, at, or very near their freezing temperature in a liquid, congealed, or semicongealed condition comprised of: 
       (a) an inner container constructed of a material having good thermal conductivity for holding the contents,  
       (b) an outer container enclosing said inner container,  
       (c) a water based refrigerant material that may be frozen into a solid within the range of conventional household refrigerator freezes,  
       (d) a fabric constructed of a mineral permeated in said refrigerant for altering the rate at which thermal energy flows into, and out of said refrigerant, whereby the degree of congealment of the contents, or said refrigerant may be altered.  
     
     
       9. The container of claim  8 , wherein said mineral fabric is made of metal. 
     
     
       10. The container of claim  8 , wherein said metal fabric is among those having high thermal conductivity. 
     
     
       11. The container of claim  10 , wherein said metal fabric having high thermal conductivity is aluminum. 
     
     
       12. A container for rapid cooling of contents placed therein comprised of: 
       (a) an inner container for holding the contents,  
       (b) an outer container enclosing said inner container,  
       (c) a water based refrigerant which during the normal operation of the container undergoes a change of volume in its material phase transformation having direct physical contact with, and filling a compartment substantially devoid of free air between the outside of said inner container, and the inside of said outer container,  
       (d) means for attaching said inner container to said outer container,  
       (e) said inner container constructed of a material that produces a greater flow of thermal energy into, and out of said refrigerant than said outer container, when exposed to the same environment,  
       (f) said outer container having a wall constructed of a dense material which allows a lower amount of thermal energy to flow into, and out of said refrigerant than said inner container, and of sufficient thickness to resist substantial deformation, and maintain the general dimensional integrity of said wall, in spite of increased transformation,  
       (g) a compressible material, affixed to the bottom of said compartment, for absorbing the changes of volume of said refrigerant in its material phase transformation, whereby the expansion volume of said refrigerant may be directed away from said inner container walls, and said outer container walls, and into said compressible material.  
     
     
       13. The container of claim  12 , wherein said compressible material is made of plastic. 
     
     
       14. The container of claim  12 , wherein said compressible material is made of an elastomer. 
     
     
       15. The container of claim  14 , wherein said elastomer is rubber. 
     
     
       16. A container according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  8  or  12 , further comprising an inner container constructed of a polymeric material. 
     
     
       17. The container of claim  16 , wherein said polymeric material inner container is plastic. 
     
     
       18. A container according to claim  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  8  or  12 , further comprising an inner container constructed of a metal. 
     
     
       19. The container of claim  18 , wherein said inner container metal is aluminum. 
     
     
       20. A container according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  8  or  12 , further comprising an outer container constructed of a polymeric material. 
     
     
       21. The container of claim  20 , wherein said polymeric material outer container is plastic. 
     
     
       22. The container of claim  20 , wherein said polymeric material outer container is an elastomer. 
     
     
       23. A container according to claims  1 ,  2  or  3 , further comprising heat absorbing material that is a refrigerant. 
     
     
       24. A container according to claims  1 ,  2  or  3 , further comprising a gelatinous heat absorbing material. 
     
     
       25. A container according to claims  4 ,  8  or  12 , wherein said water contains about 5 and one half percent salt. 
     
     
       26. The container of claim  2 , wherein said inner container interior is equal in measurement to at least two and half of said inner container diameters. 
     
     
       27. The container of claim  2 , wherein said level of heat absorbing material is equal in measurement to at least two and a half of said inner container diameters. 
     
     
       28. The container of claim  3 , wherein said inner container cross section length is equal in measurement to at least two and a half of said widths. 
     
     
       29. The container of claim  28 , wherein said level of heat absorbing material is equal in measurement to at least two and a half of said inner container widths. 
     
     
       30. A container according to claims  1 ,  2  or  3 , further comprising a heat absorbing material that is mostly water. 
     
     
       31. A container according to claim  30 , wherein said water contains about 5 and one half percent salt. 
     
     
       32. A container as in any one of claims  2 , or  3 , wherein the contents are heated.  
     
     
       33. A container as in any one of claims  2 , or  3 , wherein said inner container has a wall thickness of about  0 . 80  mm (   0 . 032 ″ )  or less.    
     
     
       34. A container as in any one of claims  2 , or  3 , wherein said inner container has a wall thickness of about  0 . 64  mm (   0 . 025 ″ )  or less.    
     
     
       35. A container as in any one of claims  2 , or  3 , wherein said inner container has a wall thickness of about  0 . 10  mm. (   0 . 004 ″ )  or more.    
     
     
       36. A container as in any one of claims  2 , or  3 , wherein the desired condition is congealed.  
     
     
       37. A wine freezing container comprised of: 
       ( a )  a container for holding the wine,    
       ( b )  a refrigeration means sufficient to freeze a substantial portion of the wine into a congealed condition,    
       ( c )  a means for preventing substantially complete congealment of the wine,    
       ( d )  a separation means for maintaining a primarily liquid remaining portion of the wine apart from said congealed portion for consumption in a desired condition.    
     
     
       38. A beer freezing container comprised of: 
       ( a )  a container for holding the beer,    
       ( b )  a refrigeration means sufficient to freeze a substantial portion of the beer into a congealed condition,    
       ( c )  a means for preventing substantially complete congealment of the beer,    
       ( d )  a separation means for maintaining a primarily liquid remaining portion of the beer apart from said congealed portion for consumption in a desired condition.    
     
     
       39. A container as in any one of claims  37 , or  38 , wherein said separation means is a surface sufficiently cooled to cause adherence of said congealment.  
     
     
       40. A container for rapid freezing of contents placed therein comprised of: 
       ( a )  a container for holding the contents,    
       ( b )  a compartment constructed of a polymeric material having a wall about  0 . 80  mm  (   0 . 032 ″ )  or less in thickness for holding a material phase - change refrigerant in thermal contact with the contents,    
       ( c )  said refrigerant sufficient to freeze a substantial portion of the contents into a congealed, or semi - congealed condition through said wall.    
     
     
       41. A container for freezing of contents placed therein comprised of: 
       ( a )  a container for holding the contents,    
       ( b )  a walled compartment for holding a material phase - change refrigerant in a volume equal to about half or less the volume of said container in thermal contact with the contents,    
       ( c )  said refrigerant sufficient to freeze a substantial portion of the contents from a liquid into a congealed, or semi - congealed condition.    
     
     
       42. A container as in any one of claims  2 ,  3 ,  40 , or  41 , wherein the contents is water.  
     
     
       43. A container as in any one of claims  2 ,  3 ,  40 , or  41 , wherein the contents is a milkshake- like food, or beverage.    
     
     
       44. A container as in any one of claims  2 ,  3 ,  40 , or  41 , wherein the contents is a soft drink, or a fruit juice.  
     
     
       45. A container as in any one of claims  2 ,  3 ,  40 , or  41 , wherein the contents is ice cream- like food.    
     
     
       46. A container for cooling cocktails of high alcohol content such as martinis and the like comprised of: 
       ( a )  a container for holding the cocktail,    
       ( b )  a refrigeration means sufficient to maintain the cocktail at a consistent temperature of about − 1 ° C.  (   30 ° F. )  or below for serving in a desired condition.    
     
     
       47. The container of claim  46 , wherein said refrigeration is contained with a walled compartment made from a polymeric material.  
     
     
       48. A container for freezing alcoholic beverage contents comprised of: 
       ( a )  a container for holding the contents,    
       ( b )  a walled compartment for holding a material phase - change refrigerant in thermal contact with the contents,    
       ( c )  said refrigerant sufficient to freeze a substantial portion of the contents into a congealed, or semi - congealed condition through a wall of said compartment for serving as desired.    
     
     
       49. A container as in any one of claims  2 ,  3 ,  40 , or  48 , wherein the contents is a daiquiri- like cocktail.    
     
     
       50. A container as in any one of claims  2 ,  3 ,  40 , or  48 , wherein the contents is beer.  
     
     
       51. A container as in any one of claims  2 ,  3 ,  40 , or  48 , wherein the contents is wine.  
     
     
       52. A container as in any one of claims  41 ,  47 , or  48 , wherein said compartment wall is about  0 . 80  mm (   0 . 032 ″ )  or less in thickness.    
     
     
       53. A container as in any one of claims  40 ,  47 , or  48 , wherein said compartment wall is about  0 . 64  mm (   0 . 025 ″ )  or less in thickness.    
     
     
       54. A container as in any one of claims  40 ,  47 , or  48 , wherein said compartment wall is about  0 . 1  mm. (   0 . 004 ″ )  or more in thickness.    
     
     
       55. A container as in any one of claims  41 , or  48 , wherein said compartment wall is made from a polymeric material.  
     
     
       56. A container as in any one of claims  2 ,  3 ,  37 ,  38 ,  40 ,  41 ,  46 , or  48 , wherein the container is hand held.  
     
     
       57. A container as in any one of claims  37 ,  38 ,  46 ,  41 , or  48 , wherein said refrigeration, or said refrigerant is a liquid frozen solid.  
     
     
       58. A container as in any one of claims  37 ,  38 ,  40 ,  41 ,  46 , or  48 , wherein said refrigeration, or said refrigerant is mostly water.  
     
     
       59. A container as in any one of claims  37 ,  38 ,  40 ,  41 ,  46 , or  48 , wherein said refrigeration, or said refrigerant contains about  5  and one half percent salt.  
     
     
       60. A container as in any one of claims  37 ,  38 ,  40 ,  41 ,  46 , or  48 , wherein said refrigeration, or said refrigerant is gelatinous.  
     
     
       61. A container of as in any of claims  2 ,  3 ,  37 ,  38  or  41 , wherein said desired condition is about − 1 ° C. (   30 ° F. )  or less.    
     
     
       62. A container as in any of claims  2 ,  3 ,  37 , or  38  wherein said desired condition is about − 2 ° C. (   28 ° F. )  or less.    
     
     
       63. A container as in any of claims  2 , or  3 , wherein said desired condition is the freezing temperature of the contents.  
     
     
       64. The container of claim  55 , wherein said polymeric material is plastic.  
     
     
       65. The container of claim  47 , wherein said polymeric material is plastic.